William William Byrd: Keyboard Works – Stephen Farr (organ)

Byrd, William (1540(?)-1623)

Voluntary in C Major

Fantasia in A minor

Miserere (I), BK66

Miserere (II), BK67

Fantasia in C major, No. 1

A Verse of Two Parts

Fantasia in G major

Gloria tibi Trinitas

Fantasia in G Major [I]

Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la in G major

Voluntary in A Minor / C Major

O quam gloriosum est regnum: I. Prima pars & II. Secunda pars

Critically acclaimed organist Stephen Farr performs on the Taylor & Boody organ at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, presenting a rare exploration of the piano works of William Byrd on the organ. This historically informed instrument is built in the Early English style and is a fitting tribute to the composer, whose death anniversary this year is the 400th.

• Performing on the Taylor & Boody Organ of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, the critically acclaimed organist Stephen Farr presents a rare exploration of the keyboard works of William Byrd on the organ.

• This historically informed instrument is made in the early English style and makes a fitting tribute in this, the composer’s 400th anniversary year.

Reviews

BBC Music Magazine December 2023

“For non-completists, Farr ’s snapshot is adroitly chosen. Played with trenchant ebullience, to close there’s Byrd’s own arrangement (probably) of his Marian motet O quam gloriosum est regnum…Characteristic too is Farr’s adventurous approach to ornamentation, which always sounds effortlessly natural…Farr’s Byrd is a supremely welcome addition to the ‘aviary ’. – 4 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 5 out of 5 stars (Recording)